# Ornate Checkered Beetle (*Trichodes ornatus*) The Ornate Checkered Beetle is a colorful little bug with a checkered pattern on its back. It loves to crawl around in gardens and fields, helping to keep plants healthy by eating pests. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 13 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Ornate Checkered Beetle](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Trichodes_ornatus%252C_U%252C_back%252C_Fossil_Butte_NM%252C_Wyoming_2012-10-16-15.20_%288095655020%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: USGS Native Bee Inventory and Monitoring Laboratory from Beltsville, USA, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Trichodes_ornatus%252C_U%252C_back%252C_Fossil_Butte_NM%252C_Wyoming_2012-10-16-15.20_%288095655020%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Ornate Checkered Beetle is a striking insect with a black head and thorax. Its hardened wing covers are a vibrant yellow-orange, marked with bold black bands and spots that create a distinctive checkered appearance. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Coleoptera - **Family:** Cleridae - **Genus:** Trichodes ## Interesting facts - Adult beetles visit flowers, but their babies are fierce hunters. - Many bugs try to copy their bright 'stay away' colors! - Their larvae can live for over a year before becoming adult beetles! - They are found only in the western parts of North America. ## Special abilities - **Warning Colors:** Ornate Checkered Beetles have bright yellow-orange and black patterns that help warn predators that they might taste bad or be toxic. - **Quick Flight:** Ornate Checkered Beetles can fly with surprising speed because their strong wings allow them to quickly move between flowers or escape danger. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 15-25 mm - **Size:** 8-15 mm - **Lifespan:** 21-28 days - **Flight Speed:** 10 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Adults drink nectar, but larvae are tiny hunters that eat other insect babies! - **Age differences:** Adults feed on pollen and nectar, while the larvae are predatory, hunting other insect larvae in their nests. - **Primary Foods:** Pollen, Nectar, Bark beetle larvae, Solitary bee larvae, Other insect pupae ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** Mountain Pine Beetle (*Dendroctonus ponderosae*) — Larvae prey on their larvae - **Hunts:** [Alfalfa Leafcutter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/alfalfa-leafcutter-bee) (*Megachile rotundata*) — Larvae prey on their larvae - **Eaten by:** [Western Bluebird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-bluebird) (*Sialia mexicana*) — Adults can be prey for birds - **Depends on:** Common Yarrow (*Achillea millefolium*) — Adults feed on pollen and nectar ## Traits - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low These beetles are harmless, but it's best to watch them from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Ornate Checkered Beetle? Look for hard wing covers meeting in a line down the back, then compare the antennae, body shape, legs and markings. Metallic colors shift a lot with lighting. Beetle Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Ornate Checkered Beetle's wingspan? 15-25 mm ### How big is Ornate Checkered Beetle? 8-15 mm ### How long does Ornate Checkered Beetle live? 21-28 days ### How fast can Ornate Checkered Beetle fly? 10 km/h ### What does Ornate Checkered Beetle eat? Adults drink nectar, but larvae are tiny hunters that eat other insect babies! ### Where is Ornate Checkered Beetle usually found? Grasslands ### How many legs does Ornate Checkered Beetle have? 6 ## Where to spot - [Bryce Canyon Lodge Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bryce-canyon-lodge-historic-district) — Utah, US · Historic District - [Bryce Canyon National Park Scenic Trails Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bryce-canyon-national-park-scenic-trails-historic-district) — Utah, US · Trail - [William Allen White Cabins](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/william-allen-white-cabins) — Colorado, US · Historic District - [Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/point-defiance-zoo-and-aquarium) — Washington, US · Zoo - [Alan Bible Visitor Center](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/alan-bible-visitor-center) — Nevada, US · Botanical Garden - [E. Martin Hennings House and Studio Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/e-martin-hennings-house-and-studio-historic-district) — New Mexico, US · Historic District [View all places to see Ornate Checkered Beetle](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/ornate-checkered-beetle) ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Ornate Checkered Beetle: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/ornate-checkered-beetle)